The UEFA CUP Dream Is Over For Galatasaray

Let me say this first, how could you lose a match, when you are winning by two goals?

Easily when you have a coach who has never managed in the big leagues.

He might have played in big matches but, coaching, is far different from playing.

I have no question about Bulent Korkmaz's past as a player, but I have a lot of questions about his coaching ability.

He shocked everyone when he played Harry Kewell in defence and replaced Brazilian International Lincoln in both legs.

I think the power struggle between Lincoln and Bulent Korkmaz cost Galatasaray their place in the next round of the UEFA Cup.

After going two goals ahead, Galatasay rolled over and died after the 55th minute of the match.

Bulent Korkmaz should have made some changes when he was two goals up, not when Hamburg.

Instead, Hamburg came from behind to knock Galatasaray out of the UEFA Cup at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium, winning 3-2 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.

Jose Paolo Guerrero was the hero for the Bundesliga side, striking twice to cancel out the home side's lead, established with a Harry Kewell penalty in the 42nd minute and Milan Baros' goal three minutes into the second half.

Guerrero struck his first in the 57th minute and added a second moments later, before Ivica Olic added a third late on to seal Hamburg's passage to the last eight, where they join fellow German side Werder Bremen.

Hamburg made a bright start with the first chance of the game falling to their striker Olic, whose dipping header was tipped over by Morgan de Sanctis.

At the other end, Joris Mathijsen was enjoying a physical battle with Baros as the Hamburg defense held firm against the home side's first advances.

Galatasaray began to increase the pressure with Sabri Sarioglu hitting two shots over the crossbar.

The home side's persistence was rewarded with the opening goal in the 42nd minute. It was scored from the penalty spot by stand-in central defender Kewell, after Milan Baros was sliced down by Jerome Boateng just inside the area.

The goal did not alter the fact that Hamburg had to score, but now they knew that just one goal would not be enough to put them through.

In the 48th minute Arda Turan poked the ball into the path of Baros, who neatly lifted it over the onrushing Frank Rost and into the back of the net.

Hamburg's reaction was exemplary, with two goals in as many minutes from Guerrero bringing them level—and giving them the advantage on away goals.

His first in the 57th minute came out of nothing, with the Peruvian forward trying his luck from long range and beating De Sanctis with a fine shot into the top left-hand corner.

And moments later, he went on a mazy run, leaving three Gala defenders trailing in his wake, before firing a venomous shot past De Sanctis.

Olic then sealed the win, lobbing De Sanctis after reaching David Jarolim's through ball in the last minute.

That was the end of Galatasaray's involvement in the UEFA Cup this season.

They dreamed about playing the final in the Sukru Saracoglu stadium, the home of their great rivals Fenerbahce, but that dream ended on their own pitch.

Lastly, After the first leg match, some of the absurd Turkish newspapers said Galatasaray had Hamburger in Germany.

I wonder, what they will say now. Like the Galatasaray team it seems they had forgotten about the second leg.